Indians to host 2019 All-Star Game

CLEVELAND -- Baseball's Midsummer Classic is sliding back home to Cleveland in two years.

The Indians, who have been enjoying a renaissance on the field, will host the 90th All-Star Game in 2019 at Progressive Field, Commissioner Rob Manfred announced Friday as a light snow fell at the downtown ballpark.

Progressive Field, the site of a dramatic World Series Game 7, is going to host the 2019 All-Star Game. Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland last hosted the event in 1997, when Indians catcher Sandy Alomar hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh inning to lead the AL to a win and earn MVP honors.

This will be the sixth time the game will be hosted by the Indians, the most among MLB teams.

Landing the game is another boost for the Indians, who won the AL pennant last year and took the Chicago Cubs to seven games before losing a dramatic World Series.

It's been a notable offseason for Cleveland, which added one of the game's elite sluggers by signing free agent Edwin Encarnacion.